The Tanach, comprising the Torah, Nevi'im, and Kesuvim, is the Written Torah and the foundation of all Jewish learning, study, and practice. Divrei Torah sefarim build on that foundation, providing weekly parsha commentary, in-depth Torah analysis, and d'var Torah resources that bring the text alive for learners, teachers, and anyone who prepares a shiur or speaks at a Shabbos table. At Eichlers, we carry Chumash sets, Nach volumes, and a full range of divrei Torah sefarim in Hebrew and English for every level of learner, from a child reading his first Chumash through a scholar studying the classical mefarshim on the weekly parsha.
A Chumash, the Five Books of Moses in book form, is one of the most essential sefarim in any Jewish home or classroom. Unlike a sefer Torah, which contains the unvowelized text alone, a Chumash includes the full vowelized Hebrew text with cantillation marks, the Aramaic translation of Onkelos printed alongside each verse, and typically the commentary of Rashi as the primary mefaresh. The Chumash is the sefer from which children learn to read Torah text from their earliest years in school, and it remains the standard reference for weekly parsha learning throughout a lifetime. At Eichlers, we carry Chumash sets in standard and quality editions, in Hebrew-only and Hebrew-English formats, and in compact and full-size volumes suited for home, school, and shul use. The Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash, one of the most widely used Hebrew-English Chumashim in English-speaking communities, is available alongside more traditional Hebrew editions and specialized editions for different communities and learning frameworks.
Nach, the collective name for Nevi'im and Kesuvim, the Prophets and the Writings, comprises the twenty-four books of the Hebrew Bible beyond the five books of the Torah. It includes the historical narratives of Yehoshua, Shoftim, Shmuel, and Melachim, the prophetic works of Yeshayahu, Yirmiyahu, Yechezkel, and the twelve minor prophets, and the Kesuvim including Tehillim, Mishlei, Iyov, the five Megillot, Ezra, Nechemiah, and Divrei HaYamim. Nach is studied in yeshivos and day schools as part of the general curriculum, and many communities have adopted the practice of completing Sefer Tehillim regularly and learning specific books of Nach in connection with the Yomim Tovim, Megilas Esther on Purim, Megilas Rus on Shavuos, Megilas Eicha on Tisha B'Av, and Megilas Koheles on Succos. Quality Nach volumes with traditional commentaries including Metzudas David and Metzudas Tzion, as well as Hebrew-English editions with modern translations and explanatory notes, are available at Eichlers for individual books and in complete sets.
Parsha sefarim, books organized according to the weekly Torah portion, are among the most practically useful and widely read sefarim in frum homes across all communities. A quality parsha sefer provides divrei Torah, insights, and commentary on each week's parsha that can be used as the basis for a Shabbos table discussion, a shiur, a speech at a simcha, or personal enrichment and preparation for Shabbos. The range of parsha sefarim available reflects the full breadth of the Torah commentary tradition, from classic Chassidic interpretations of the parsha rooted in the teachings of the major Rebbes through analytical yeshivish commentary in the tradition of the Lithuanian mussar movement, and from accessible popular parsha books written for a general audience through deeply scholarly multi-volume works written for advanced learners and teachers who want the full depth of the Torah commentary tradition at their fingertips for each week's parsha.
The most widely studied classic Torah commentaries are available individually and in collected sets organized by parsha. Rashi's commentary on the Chumash, the starting point for any parsha learning, is available in dedicated volumes alongside the Torah text, in Hebrew-only and Hebrew-English editions with supercommentary explaining Rashi's sources and reasoning. The Ramban's commentary, which engages critically with Rashi and adds kabbalistic, philosophical, and historical dimensions to the understanding of each parsha, is available in complete sets and individual volumes. The Sforno, Kli Yakar, Or HaChaim, and other major Rishonim and Acharonim on the Chumash are also available, providing the breadth of classical commentary that a serious parsha learner or teacher needs to prepare a genuinely deep and original d'var Torah each week.
A rich body of contemporary parsha sefarim written in English brings the depth of the Torah commentary tradition to English-speaking learners who cannot access the classical works in the original Hebrew. These works range from accessible weekly parsha summaries suitable for young readers through sophisticated multi-volume Torah commentary series written by contemporary gedolim and Torah thinkers for an educated adult audience. Works that explore the parsha through the lens of mussar, machshava, halacha, and aggadah, that relate the weekly Torah portion to contemporary life and challenges, and that serve as a reliable d'var Torah resource for busy parents and professionals who want to share something meaningful at their Shabbos table without hours of preparation time are all represented in our selection of English parsha sefarim.
A d'var Torah, a word of Torah, is expected at virtually every Jewish occasion from the Shabbos table through a bar mitzvah, a wedding, a sheva brachos, a siyum, and a Yom Tov gathering. Having a reliable divrei Torah resource that can be consulted quickly for an appropriate, substantive, and engaging message for any occasion is something that every Jewish parent, host, and community member finds genuinely useful. Our selection of divrei Torah sefarim includes collections organized by parsha, by Yom Tov, by topic, and by occasion, providing immediately usable material for speakers at every level from a twelve-year-old boy preparing his first bar mitzvah speech through a rav or maggid looking for source material to enrich a shiur or public address.
Children encounter the Chumash from their earliest years in Jewish education, and the sefarim they learn from at each stage shape their relationship with the Torah text for the rest of their lives. Children's Chumash editions with larger type, clear vowelization, illustrated support, and age-appropriate commentary help young learners build confidence and comprehension as they progress from Bereishis through Devarim. Beginner editions for adults who are newer to Torah learning provide the same essential support in a format suited to adult learners who want to engage with the Chumash text seriously without the background assumed by editions written for yeshiva-trained readers. We carry Tanach and Chumash editions across this full range at Eichlers, making quality Torah text accessible to every learner regardless of background or age.
A quality Chumash set, a complete Tanach, or a well-chosen parsha sefer is a meaningful and lasting gift for virtually any Jewish occasion. A beautifully bound Chumash is a classic bar mitzvah gift for a boy beginning his independent Torah study. A comprehensive Hebrew-English parsha commentary series is a thoughtful wedding gift for a couple establishing their Shabbos table. An accessible English parsha sefer is a practical and personal gift for a baal teshuva, a newly observant family, or anyone who wants to deepen their weekly engagement with the Torah. Browse our full bar mitzvah gifts collection for more meaningful sefarim and Judaica to pair with a Tanach or parsha book gift.
Tanach and divrei Torah sefarim are the foundation of Jewish learning and belong alongside the full range of Torah sefarim that Eichlers carries for every community and level.
A sefer Torah is a handwritten parchment scroll containing the unvowelized Hebrew text of the Five Books of Moses, written by a qualified sofer for use in synagogue Torah readings. A Chumash is a printed book containing the same text with full vowelization, cantillation marks, Onkelos translation, and typically Rashi's commentary, produced for study, learning, and personal use rather than for the synagogue reading itself.
Nach stands for Nevi'im and Kesuvim, the Prophets and the Writings. It includes the historical prophetic books from Yehoshua through Melachim, the literary prophets Yeshayahu, Yirmiyahu, Yechezkel, and the twelve minor prophets, and the Kesuvim including Tehillim, Mishlei, Iyov, the five Megillot, Ezra, Nechemiah, and Divrei HaYamim. Together with the five books of the Torah, it comprises the twenty-four books of the Hebrew Bible known as the Tanach.
A beautifully bound full Chumash set with Rashi and English translation is a classic and lasting bar mitzvah gift. The Artscroll Stone Edition is the most widely gifted Hebrew-English Chumash in American communities and is available in standard and full-size formats. For a boy from a more traditional background, a quality Hebrew edition with Onkelos and Rashi is the more appropriate choice. Ask about the family's preference before purchasing.
A compact English parsha sefer that provides one substantive, ready-to-use d'var Torah per parsha with its source and context clearly explained is the most practical choice for a busy parent who wants to contribute something meaningful at the Shabbos table without hours of preparation. We carry several such works in our selection of English divrei Torah sefarim that are specifically designed for this purpose.
Yes, though the emphasis and method vary by institution. Chumash with Rashi is taught from the earliest grades in virtually every Jewish day school and yeshiva. Nach study is more variable, with some yeshivos covering specific books in depth and others dedicating limited formal time to it. Many learners study Nach independently and in connection with the Yomim Tovim when specific books have particular relevance to the season or occasion.
Yes. We carry Chumash editions designed for young learners with larger type, clear vowelization, illustrated support, and age-appropriate commentary that helps children build confidence and comprehension as they work through the text from the earliest grades through bar and bat mitzvah age. These editions are also useful for adult beginners who want the support of a clearly formatted, accessible text as they approach the Chumash for the first time.
For Hebrew-proficient learners, a quality Nach set with the traditional commentaries of Metzudas David and Metzudas Tzion, which provide concise and clear explanations of both the literal meaning and the literary structure of each book, is the standard choice for home Nach study. For English-dominant learners, the Artscroll Hebrew-English Nach series provides a clear translation alongside the Hebrew text with explanatory notes that make the text fully accessible without requiring advanced Hebrew reading skills.